Arthur Ashe Stadium just feels different. It’s the home of the US Open, sure, but for one night in late September, it becomes the most chaotic tennis court on the planet. AEW Grand Slam 2024 took over Queens on September 25, and honestly, if you weren’t there or glued to your screen, you missed a weirdly poetic shift in the company’s DNA.
People were worried. The attendance was roughly 8,834—down from the massive 20,000-plus crowd of the first year—but the energy didn't care about the empty seats in the upper deck. The stadium still echoed.
The Match That Shouldn't Have Happened
The night kicked off with a ghost. Nigel McGuinness, a man who hadn't wrestled a singles match in 13 years, walked down that ramp to face Bryan Danielson.
It was surreal.
For years, Nigel has been the bitter voice on commentary, constantly chirping about "The Clam Digger." Most of us figured it was just a bit. But when "The Final Countdown" hit and Danielson appeared, the irony vanished. They beat the hell out of each other for nearly 19 minutes. No, it wasn't the 2006 ROH classic. It couldn't be. Their bodies are different now. But seeing Nigel hit a lariat that looked like it could take a head off? That was real. Danielson eventually got the win with the LeBell Lock, but the story wasn't about the tap-out. It was about Nigel proving he still belonged in a ring, even if his lungs were burning by the ten-minute mark.
A New Era of Violence
While the technical masters opened the show, the main event was pure, unadulterated tension. Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin.
Basically, Moxley is on a mission to "burn down" the house he helped build. He took Darby's guaranteed title shot, which felt like a massive middle finger to the fans who wanted to see the underdog finally reach the summit. The match was stiff. Darby took a Death Rider from the middle rope that looked absolutely miserable to receive.
Moxley won.
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It was the right move, even if it hurt. By winning, Moxley set up a date with destiny at WrestleDream against Danielson, effectively turning the Blackpool Combat Club into a group of marauders rather than mentors.
Why the FTW Title Retirement Actually Mattered
Hook vs. Roderick Strong was a sleeper hit on the card. Most people view the FTW Championship as a prop—a "Taz family heirloom" that didn't really fit the modern AEW landscape.
After Hook choked out Strong with the Red Rum, he didn't just celebrate. He retired the belt. He handed it back to his dad, Taz, at the commentary desk. It was a rare, genuine moment of sentimentality in a sport that usually favors betrayal. It signals that Hook is finally moving toward the "real" titles, and honestly, it was about time.
The Young Bucks and the Art of Being Hated
The Tag Team Championship match was a masterclass in frustration. The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) defended against Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher.
Ospreay is arguably the best in the world right now. Fletcher is his protege. They should have won. They had the Bucks beat. But Don Callis—ever the snake—tried to slide a screwdriver into the ring. Ospreay, being the "good guy," threw it away. That split second of morality cost them everything. The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Fletcher, following a belt shot that the ref missed, and that was that.
It’s a classic trope: the babyface loses because he’s too nice. But in front of a New York crowd, it felt especially grating. The "AEW EVPs" are leaning so hard into being unlikable that it's actually starting to work again.
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Quick Hits from the Collision Taping
Since AEW Grand Slam 2024 was a two-part event, the Saturday Collision side had its own set of highlights that were taped the same night.
- Jamie Hayter destroyed Saraya in a "Saraya's Rules" match. This was basically a street fight where only Saraya could use weapons, yet Hayter still found a way to put her through a table.
- Kazuchika Okada reminded everyone why he's "The Rainmaker" by putting down Sammy Guevara in a Continental Championship Eliminator.
- Jack Perry beat the legendary Minoru Suzuki. Yeah, you read that right. It was a countout win, which protected Suzuki's aura, but Perry is leaning into the "Scapegoat" persona with terrifying efficiency.
The MVP Factor
One of the biggest surprises wasn't a match at all. It was the debut of MVP.
He didn't come out to wrestle. He came out to talk business. He approached Prince Nana, who was giving an update on Swerve Strickland, and basically told him Swerve needs a real manager, not a hype man. This was a massive "Discover-friendly" moment. It’s the kind of segment that changes the trajectory of a main-event player. If Swerve aligns with MVP, the entire power structure of the company shifts.
What Most People Get Wrong About Grand Slam
The narrative online was that the show was "cold" because the ticket sales weren't as high as previous years.
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That’s a shallow take.
The wrestling itself was some of the most focused AEW has produced in months. They stopped trying to please everyone and started telling a cohesive story about a locker room in transition. From the retirement of the FTW title to the rise of the new BCC, the show felt like a season finale and a premiere all at once.
If you’re trying to keep up with where the company is headed, keep your eyes on the fallout between Bryan Danielson and the BCC. The "Final Countdown" isn't just a song title anymore; it's a literal timer on Danielson's full-time career.
Next Steps for Fans:
Go back and watch the Danielson vs. McGuinness match on a re-run if you can. It’s a textbook example of how to use history to tell a story without needing 50 flips. After that, keep an eye on Swerve Strickland's social media for his response to MVP’s offer. The road to Full Gear is already being paved, and it’s looking a lot more violent than last year.